Nutrition Education

Flu outbreaks have been severe this year, with the Centers for Disease Control reporting cases in every state and urging residents to take precautions.

Whether it’s the flu or a common cold, many of us are searching for ways to relieve symptoms. Various home remedies have been used for years. Apple cider vinegar, chicken soup, honey and onions are the most common – but do any of …

Caffeine has long been known to elevate blood pressure acutely. A well-designed study examined the impact of 250 mg of caffeine in subjects who consumed no coffee in the previous 3 weeks. These researchers found that the average blood pressure increased by 14/10 mmHg one hour after the caffeine was consumed.

The glycemic index, simply put, is a measure of how quickly a food causes our blood sugar levels to rise.

The measure ranks food on a scale of 0 to 100. Foods with a high glycemic index, or GI, are quickly digested and absorbed, causing a rapid rise in blood sugar. These foods that rank high on the GI scale are often — but not always — high in processed carbohydrates and sugars. …

Lactose, the type of carbohydrate found in milk, is not well digested in approximately 15% of people of northern European descent, up to 80% of blacks and Latinos, and up to 100% of American Indians and Asians; causing gas, bloating, and diarrhea. Yet perhaps there’s more to not tolerating milk than lactose.

In recent years, research into the specific types of protein found in cow’s …

Turns out that the old saying “you are what you eat” is true, especially in relation to food and mood. Over the past several years, many evidence-based studies have been published detailing how some foods help improve your mood while others make it worse. Important nutrients affect brain chemistry, impacting mood, memory and cognitive function. However, if you’re eating…

Plant-based diets are trendy right now, and that’s a good thing. Plant-based eating patterns are linked to a lower risk of type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and other health problems. However, you don’t have to adopt a vegan diet, omitting all foods of animal origin, or even a less strict vegetarian diet in order to reap the benefits of …

While browsing supermarket aisles, you may notice food packages bearing various claims. “Low-sodium” and “nonfat” are established terms, but relatively new phrases such as “not bioengineered,” “no antibiotics” and “natural” are appearing on produce, meat, egg, dairy and packaged products. These claims may seem like fluff meant to …

Kale has been the "It" vegetable for years. Now, its cousins — Brussels sprouts and cauliflower — are getting top billing on an increasing amount of restaurant menus. Members of this botanical family, referred to collectively as cruciferous vegetables, are enjoying overdue culinary cachet in the United States.

If you've read about coconut water — the liquid from an immature (green) coconut — online or in the media, you'd think it was a miracle beverage that could cure you of everything from heart disease to obesity. To get the real answers, we asked two registered dietitian nutritionists for their take on this increasingly popular drink.

Inflammation is a protective process you are probably more familiar with than you think. It's the body's method of healing itself in response to an injury or exposure to a harmful substance. This is useful when, for example, skin is healing from a cut; however, inflammation is not always beneficial.

Chronic (or ongoing) inflammation occurs when the immune system attacks the body's healthy…

March is National Nutrition Month, when the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics reminds everyone to return to the basics of healthy eating. It is also the time of year when the Academy celebrates expertise of registered dietitian nutritionists as the food and nutrition experts.

You've probably heard of prebiotics and probiotics, but do you know what they are? Nutrition research has pinpointed…

Yogurt has been around for thousands of years, at least since 6000 BC. The word yogurt is believed to come from the Turkish word “yog`urmak,” which means to thicken, coagulate, or curdle. Most yogurt today is made from cow’s milk fermented with Lactobacillus bulgaricus and Streptococcus thermophiles bacteria, the live and active cultures found …

Is it possible to make junk food healthy simply by adding vitamins? Perhaps we should also ask: can pigs fly?

Junk food, by definition, is high in calories, (typically fat and/or sugar) but low in nutrients. Adding vitamins and minerals to junk food is a marketing ploy designed to entice us into purchasing more junk food, somehow fooling ourselves into …

ARE THESE GERMINATED GEMS POISED TO TAKE THEIR PLACE IN THE LIMELIGHT?

By Marisa Moore, MBA, RDN, LD

Chances are you’ve heard about sprouted grains. Though it may sound like a new trend, sprouted grains have been around for years. Once relegated to the back corner of the community health-food store, sprouted grains are becoming a more mainstream option. If you wrote them off as just …

If you're feeling forgetful, it could be due to a lack of sleep or a number of other reasons including genetics, level of physical activity, and lifestyle and environmental factors. However, there's no doubt that diet plays a major role in brain health.

The best menu for boosting memory and brain function encourages good blood flow to the brain — much like what you'd eat to nourish and …

Say goodbye to cupcakes and hello to all-natural, whole-grain popcorn. According to the Popcorn Board, Americans consume about 51 quarts of popcorn per person each year. Beyond movie theaters, popcorn is replacing nuts as a pub snack and can be found as an ingredient in savory and sweet foods including……

The hottest new food trend is actually pretty old. Way, way old. The same whole grains grown by ancient Egyptians, Ethiopians, Aztecs, and Incas are shaking up the 21st century as they’re now appearing in staples like Cheerios and Chobani yogurt, with many more products expected to hit the shelves in 2015.

We’re bombarded with advertisements for foods, beverages, and supplements to improve energy levels, increase focus and attention span, and get us through a mid-afternoon slump. Understanding the difference between the hype and the truth is key for optimum energy levels and good health.

By Melinda Johnson, MS, RDN, Director of the Didactic Program in Dietetics and a Clinical Assistant Professor for the Nutrition Program at Arizona State University. Article reprinted from US News & World Report, Jan 22, 2015

We consume too much sugar – but there are easy ways to start cutting back today.

Waking up tired? Feeling fatigued and you don't know why? Dragging through the afternoon, looking for caffeine and a snack as a pick-me-up? Craving carbohydrates for a relaxing treat? For any of these complaints, it is wise to assess eating patterns since they influence energy levels gained through sleep. Influences on sleep range widely and include …

Should we eat like our cave-dwelling ancestors? Proponents of the paleo diet seem to think so. We decided to take a closer look at this popular diet in order to determine whether or not it is actually good for your health.

To eat a paleo diet, you stick to fruits, non-starchy vegetables, and …